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Engineers Taps

JerseyBill

Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Posts
169
Location
Jersey, Channel Isles
First Name
Bill
Hi.

Another set from a couple of years ago.

My youngest son liked the pen and pencil that I had made for his brother and, with his birthday looming, I thought about making a present for him too.

He is an engineer and makes steam engines (and has made pens - he bought me my starter kit).

Again I used an Atrax kit and a Toolbox pencil kit - but machined two bodies from aluminium to look like engineer's taps. Finding Brad Bothard's guidance on anodising (BradG on IAP) I decided to anodise them and dye them black. A small DIY plating kit helped me to finish them by plating the brass operating parts, that I had made, with replica chrome. You twist the chrome square finial on the pen to extend the tip, press the pencil's to operate the mechanism.

DSCF4218.JPGDSCF4221.JPG
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Beaut design Bill interesting thing to do it appeals to me as a way to do unusual things. Thanks for sharing mate.

Peter.
 

JerseyBill

Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Posts
169
Location
Jersey, Channel Isles
First Name
Bill
Nicely done :thumbs: but I think they would have looked better in silver/grey?

Thanks muchly William. I was torn, to be honest, as to colour. As part of the process I had made a couple of test pieces for the anodising (never having done it before). One didn't take the anodising at all (wrong grade of aluminium I discovered) the other was fine but I wasn't totally happy with the resultant colour - so I opted to dye, and thought that black would look good against the chrome. I guess it's personal taste and all that! Thanks for the observation, though - appreciated! :thumbs:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
I can see so many lining up if this was on a sales table,the unique duplication of a universal tool is fantastic. I am stimulated to the theme thread.

Peter.
 
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